Brooks Hotel on Drury Street looks terribly unassuming from the outside. You’ve probably walked past it a million times. But step inside & you’ll find the Jasmine Bar, an oasis of calm in the city. It’s been a secret haunt of mine for years. Lunch, afternoon tea, a cheeky Tom Collins. We’ve done family dinner in Francesca’s Restaurant on many occasions too. Brooks is a hidden gem, in the middle of town.

Not being a seen-to-be-seen kind of place, the Jasmine Bar offers the sort of peace & quiet to sit back & relax. With Ma & Pa just back from their hols, it was the perfect spot to settle in & hear all about it. We ordered off the lunch menu. Caesar salad for me & Greek salad for Herself. A turkey & stuffing sandwich with a cup of tomato soup for Dad. And we shared some wonderfully robust potato wedges.

The measured service at Brooks is luxe, not lax. Staff are highly trained, lending a Continental feel of being looked after. We could use more of it in Dublin. Everything was laid gently on our table, with a smile. The food is simple, but something to write home about. Award winning chef, Patrick McLarnon, is the main man at Francesca’s. His use of local artisan ingredients extends to the Jasmine Bar.

My Caesar was fresh & crunchy with lovely dark Romaine leaves. Ma’s Greek was just as well put together. We’re salad experts, y’know. We liked these mucho! Dad’s sambo went down a treat & his soup was nice & tangy. The menu has a good choice of sandwiches – tomato, mozzarella & basil, McConnells Organic smoked Irish salmon – & the hearty Brooks burger or a beef & Guinness stew.

If you want to linger on after lunch, then you’re in the right place. The Jasmine Bar is one of the best whiskey bars in the country, offering a Whiskey Tasting Experience for groups. Any wonder Madre loves this joint… The cocktail menu offers indulgent tipples too. If you’re looking for a bit of fun though, check out Brooks Private Cinema Club. Really rather cool. Great films & better food than any Cineplex.